Page 44 of Eternal Hoptimist

Hector’s expression turned assessing. “You’re extra chipper today.”

I turned to my computer and logged in. “Had a relaxing weekend. Lots of sleep.”

“Bullshit.”

The heat in my cheeks must have given me away because Hector slapped my desk.

“Things going well with Ethan? You two have been all the rage at the Keurig chats this past week.”

I pulled at my collar. I hated lying to everyone, especially Hector, who’d become a close friend over the past couple of years. Having sex with Ethan made it better—less of a lie. We might exaggerate the seriousness of our relationship, but it wasn’t all fake. My brain mastered justifying things long ago.

“He’s good for you. You’ve been happier lately.”

That’s from the two orgasms he gave me last night.I wished Ethan had stayed over so I could have woken him with a gratitude blowjob.

“Your ‘I’m thinking about Ethan’ face is cute.”

“This is my ‘I’m thinking about all the work I’m gonna dump on your lap today’ face.”

“Sadist.”

After my recent research, I doubted that fit me, but Hector sure as hell didn’t need to know that. We might have crossed a professional boundary into friendship, but there was still a line.

Hector opened his mouth, surely to say something snarky to me. I’d learned all his expressions long ago, andthatspecific twist of his lips meant trouble. Luckily, I was saved by a knock on the door frame.

“Parker, do you have a minute?” Glen asked.

Hector popped up from the chair and walked to the door. “Yes, sir.” Hector closed it behind him.

“You’ve got a good one with him. I know a few partners would kill to poach him from you, but everyone knows he wouldn’t go for it.”

I wasn’t used to Glen speaking to me candidly.

He sat in the seat Hector had vacated. “If you were a partner, you could fend off the rabid dogs more easily.” He arched his eyebrow.

I swallowed, counted to three, and pressed my thumbnail into my forefinger as a focal point for my nerves. “Maybe.” I smiled.

“How is the LD Development project coming along? What’s this I hear about recent letters to the editor inThe Oregonianlast week from food truck owners trying to stop the project?”

“Three of them. The clients have a PR person monitoring media coverage and social media chatter. I met with them this morning, and everything is progressing as planned.” I explained the next steps in the project, as was our routine when he wanted to check on a project. This time, I wanted to stand out and show I was more than someone who did the work, that I was partner material and a creative problem solver.

Choosing to take a calculated risk, I leaned forward and dropped my elbows on my desk. “There’s another option here. Since it’s mixed zoning, we could still do the condos but add a commercial space on the ground floor. It could be a food court-style gathering place to keep a few of the food truck owners there and be a selling point for residents. The lobby and amenities could move up a floor or split the space. There might be some tax benefits too.”

He paused for only a moment. I’d worked for him long enough to read him easily. “Nice in theory, but we’re here to help our clients get what they want. If they wanted to keep the food trucks around, I’m sure they would already be planning that. Adding food retailers on the ground floor adds insurance complications and likely wouldn’t earn them as much revenue as housing.”

I bristled at his quick dismissal.Will it be like this when I’m partner?I knew in my gut the idea had merit. It might not be as profitable, but there was value to adding appeal. But who cared what an attorney thought? Part of my job was to anticipate complications and opportunities. Angry food truck tenants were a potential complication.

Letters to the editor were only the beginning. A social media campaign of food truck owners rallying would surely follow. This wasn’t the first pod to be close for development in the Portland area. Each time it happened, the business owners became savvier and more convincing in their public appeals.

I wanted to research how other cities handled similar situations and mention it to my clients. It was as much my job to help the client achieve their goals as presenting a client with options.

“The partners were pleased to meet your young man last weekend.”Right. Done with the development conversation then.

I’d wondered if Glen would bring it up. A few of the partners and my fellow associates had mentioned it in passing this past week in an uncomfortable back-clapping,welcome to the secret societykind of way. It cemented that I’d made the right decision to accept Ethan’s proposal despite the need to pop antacids over all the lying. Which pissed me off and started a cycle of being angry that my relationship status even affected my work at all. Rinse and repeat.

“I hope to see him at our anniversary gala. Keep up the good work until then. If we can get this development project moved along and keep the clients happy, there’s a strong chance it’ll be a big night for you,” he said.

“I appreciate that, Glen. He’ll be there. Looking forward to it.”

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